Blast furnace



EDY

BLAST FURNACE May Filed July 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. KENNEDY BLAST FURNACE May 24, 1927.

Filed July 2. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet R G T N E v N Patented May 24, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BLAST FURNACE.

Application filed July 2,

The present invention relates to blast furnaces, and more particularly to means for centering the big charging bell.

In the usual blast furnace structures the big bell is supported by its rod which extends through a hollow rod for supporting the little bell. Due to the relatively loose fit of the big bell rod in the little bell rod, and also to the yielding of the rod itself, the big bell is liable to swing to one side out of center and to discharge the charge unevenly in the furnace.

The present invention relates particularly 1000 means for centering and guiding the big ell.

In the drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation taken partly in section of the upper portion of a blast furnace showing the bells, their operating rods and the preferred embodiment of the bell guiding and centering means;

Figure 2 is a detail section showing the mounting of one of the bell guiding rods;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line IIIIII of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 showing a modification;

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the big bell and hopper showing a modified form of guiding and centering means; and

Figure 6 is a horizontal section along the line VIVI of Figure 5.

Referring to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, there is shown in Figure 1 the upper part 1 of a blast furnace provided with the usual large hell 2 and its hopper 3, the small bell 4 and its hopper 5, the big bell rod 6 which extends through and has a loose fit in the hollow little bell rod 7, and the bell operating mechanism comprising, as shown in the drawings, a hydraulic cylinder 8 for operating the big bell rod 6 and a hydraulic cylinder 9 for operating the little bell r rod 7. The charge is dumped from the skip car 10 through the hopper 11 into the little bell hopper 5. The little hell 4 is lowered to allow the charge to drop into the big bell hop er 3. When the big bell 2 is lowered to discliarge the charge into the furnace, the little bell 4 is. of course, raised. The construction and operation of the parts above mentioned is well known in this art and further description is not necessary.

1925. Serial No. 41,049.

In a furnace having the usual parts above mentioned, when the big bell is lowered, it is centered by means of its rod which is hung from the bell rod operating mechanism and has a loose fit in the hollow rod of the little bell. The big bell is therefore liable to swing sidewise and discharge the charge unevenly in the furnace.

In order to prevent this I have provided means for accurately centering and guiding the big bell.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings such guiding means is shown as consisting of a yoke 12 which is attached by a pin 13 to the upper part of the big bell 2 and guide rods 14 on the ends of the yoke and engaging guides 15. One of the guides 15 is shown in detail in Figure 2 and consists of a bushing 16 through which the rod 14 has a close sliding fit. The bushing 16 is adjustably mounted in an opening 17 through the top of the hopper 3. The adjustable mounting is shown as being provided by holes 18 in the bushing flanges 19 and bolts 20 secured to the top of the hopper structure 3 and passing through the holes 18. The holes 18 are enough larger than the bolts 20 to allow the bushing 16 to be changed in any direction as desired. lVashers 21 are provided for closing the tops of the holes 18, the parts being clamped in position by the nuts 22.

The above described mechanism not only permits the big bell to be accurately centered with respect to its hopper so as to insure. a perfect seating of the bell in the hopper, but also serves to resist any lateral movement of the bell such as is caused by the charge starting to slide first from one side of the bell. The bell is held from the swinging movement which would be otherwise imparted to it and an even distribution of the'charge in the furnace is insured.

In Figure 4 is illustrated a modification in which a three-armed spider-like yoke 23 is used instead of the two-armed yoke 12. In this case three slide rods 14 are employed, these slide rods being guided as shown in Figure 2.

In Figure 5 is shown another modification in which the big bell is centered and held by a guide 24 through which the bell rod 6 slides. The guide 24 is mounted on a bar 25 which is adjustably held at its outer ends in openings 26 in the hopper structure 3. Clamp screws 27 are provided for holding the bar 25 in adjusted position.

The bell rod (3 has a relatively snug sliding fit through the guide 24. The guide 2% is made of a split bushing 28 held in a bushing receiving recess 29 through the bar 25. The mouth 30 of this recess is' made large enough for the bell rod (J to pass into it. After the bell rod 6 is received in the enlarged central partof the recess, the two halves of the split bushing 28 are dropped into place and clamped by the bolts 31.

The guide 24 engages the bell rod 6 at some distance below the bottom of the hollow rod 7 of the little bell and not only serves to center the big hell 2 in its hopper, but serves to resist sidewise thrusts occasioned by the load on the bell starting to slide from one side of the bell first.

\Vhile I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention is not thus limited to its illustrated euilmdiment but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a blast furnace having a big bell and its hopper, and laterally adjustable means carried by the hopper for guiding and centering the big hell.

2. The combination with a blast" furnace having a big bell and its hopper, of later ally adjustable means for guiding and centering: the big belt.

3. The combination with a blast furnace having a big bell and its hopper and a sup porting rod for the big bell. a little bell and its hopper and a hollow supporting rod for the little bell through which the rod of the big bell is loosely received, of laterally adjustable means for guiding and centering the big bell.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JULIAN KENNEDY. 

